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Hi all,
I'd like to share a video I just took of my full size Lost in Space B9 robot that's controlled by two EZ-B controller boards. Right now they are controlling limited movement and voice response of a few motors, lights and sound files played from a Sparkfun MP3 Trigger board. Although I'm just starting with the animation and have more building on the actual robot the result (mostly thanks to the EZ Robot controller board) is shocking. Please have a look at this (4 minute) You Tube vid and enjoy.
Please excuse some Technical camera lighting and sound issues. This is the first time I'd made and posted a vid online.
EDIT 8/2/13: Just realized I have no good pictures of how my B9 will look when complete. Here's one of the actual TV robots from the 60's TZ show Lost in Space and one recent shot of where I'm at with my build over 1 1/2 year after I started. Enjoy:
Thanks, Dave Schulpius
Other robots from Synthiam community
Steve's Mini 6 Fabricated Robot
Justinratliff's Ez-Face
Hi Dave;
I find that American Science and Surplus has a nice collection of unusual motors and etc. I have 2 of these motors. Their DC, but, being worm gear design, when power is off they hold their position.
http://www.sciplus.com/p/CAR-SEAT-312VDC-GEAR-MOTOR_49248
Just offering as a possibility, if you haven't lookd at this style.
D
Thanks for the tip D. I love American SS and have been there many times! I've actually had the motors you point to in my hands and ready to buy. However the thick long shaft changed my mind. I felt it would be a pain to find or make an adapter but otherwise they would have been a solid choice. I think they were originally for power car sets.
UPS just delivered the motor I do hope to use for the arm elbow. I'm excited give it the lift test. It seems very heavy duty and small enough for my needs.
AME 218-series 12V 212 in-lb RH gearmotor - stubby shaft
Nominal Voltage::12vdc RPMs: 116 rpm (no load) Amps at No load: 1.4 Amps at Stall: 21.3 Torque Nominal: 98.235 in-lbs or 11.1 Nm (yep, that's in-lbs not in-oz!) Shaft: 10mm dia x 22mm long with flat (Servo City sells 10mm clamping and set screw hubs!) Weight: 2.55lbs
I just need to decide on the best way how to control it now. I'm leaning towards a Sabertooth with a Kangaroo X2 daughter board. However a Sabertooth/Roo combo takes serial commands and I'm not sure how the scripting would work out when combined with the servos I want to use in the wrist and claws. I was hoping to use ARC's Auto Position control but serial commands may make that impossible. I've never played with the Auto Position control yet so I'm not sure how serial commands would mix with that setup. Well, half the fun is giving it a go and finding out.
Those look like the old Dewarts. Wish they were the price of the old Dewarts!
The specs on those are impressive!
@Dave Schulpius They are a little pricey for what they do, and I don't know anyone who has actually used one with an EZ-B yet, but you might want to check out the Parallax HB-25 controller. It "should" look just like a servo to ARC, so you would be able to use auto-position. (of course, the Sabertooth in R/C mode is "supposed" to look like a servo too, and I don't think anyone has had success with that and EZ-B).
HB-25
(note: I have seen them cheaper than direct from Parallax, as low as $25 each, making them competitive to a Sabertooth, but figured I would link direct to the source for the best information and let you find the best price if it meets your need).
Alan
This looks great. Does it require feedback from pot or encoder? If not, I wonder how it knows position.
From the documentation it doesn't look like it has input for encoder or a pot. I think it is more trial and error on the bench. You figure out your servo "numbers" for the position to move the motor to, then treat it like a servo not a motor. So not as sophisticated as a Kangeroo or Roboclaw, but may be serviceable for your needs.
I hate to have you spend $ on it based on my recommendation when I haven't used one yet though. Maybe someone on the B9 builders group or another robot forum has some experience if no one chimes in here.
Alan
Hmm looking again, it actually makes it act as a continuous rotation servo, so you will want some kind of emergency cut off so it doesn't spin your arm off if the timing is off in the start and stop pulses.
Alan
@Alan, I have to agree. After reading through the docs it looks like the only thing it controls is speed in on direction. Too bad, it looked so nice. I'll keep looking but it looks like I may have to see if I cant the Kangaroo to work with EZB in RC mode. Thanks for the help.